Enzyme alterations in brain tissue during the early postmortal interval with reference to the histomorphology: review of the literature

Effects of autolysis and prolonged formalin fixation on histomorphology and immunohistochemistry of normal canine brain tissue: an experimental study

CNS tumor diagnosis in dogs often relies on immunohistochemistry (IHC) given similar histologic features among tumors. Most CNS tissue samples encountered by diagnostic pathologists are collected during autopsy, and postmortem specimens can be susceptible to autolysis and prolonged formalin fixation, both of which have the potential to influence IHC results and interpretation. Here we evaluated the effects of experimentally controlled autolysis induced by delayed tissue fixation (sections of brain held for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h in 0.9% NaCl at either room temperature or 37°C prior to fixation) as well as the effects of prolonged formalin fixation times (1 wk, 1 mo, 2 mo) on a panel of 8 IHC markers (CNPase, GFAP, Iba1, OLIG2, PGP9.5, MAP2, NeuN, synaptophysin) relevant to brain tumor diagnosis. Prolonged fixation of up to 2 mo had no detrimental effect on any immunomarker except NeuN, which had reduced immunolabeling intensity. Delayed fixation led to autolytic changes as expected, on a gradient of severity corresponding to increased time in saline prior to fixation. Several immunomarkers should be used with caution (CNPase, OLIG2) or avoided entirely (MAP2, NeuN) in markedly autolyzed brain and brain tumor tissues. Our results suggest that autolysis has minimal effect on most immunomarkers, but that advanced autolysis may cause a loss of specificity for GFAP, MAP2, and PGP9.5, a loss of intensity of CNPase and OLIG2, and loss of labeling with MAP2 and NeuN. Prolonged fixation affected only NeuN, with mildly decreased intensity.

Review of the current and potential use of biological and molecular methods for the estimation of the postmortem interval in animals and humans

We provide here an overview of the state of applied techniques in the estimation of the early period of the postmortem interval (PMI). The biological methods included consist of body cooling, CSF potassium, body cooling combined with CSF potassium, and tissue autolysis. For each method, we present its application in human and veterinary medicine and provide current methodology, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as target areas for improvement. We examine current and future molecular methods as they pertain to DNA and primarily to messenger RNA degradation for the estimation of the PMI, as well as the use of RNA in aging wounds, aging blood stains, and the identification of body fluids. Various types of RNA have different lengths, structures, and functions in cells. These differences in RNAs determine various intrinsic properties, such as their half-lives in cells, and, hence, their decay rate as well as their unique use for specific forensic tests. Future applications and refinements of RNA-based techniques provide opportunities for the use of molecular methods in the estimation of PMI and other general forensic applications.

Feasibility of using tissue autolysis to estimate the postmortem interval in horses

Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is a poorly studied field in veterinary pathology. The development of field-applicable methods is needed given that animal cruelty investigations are increasing continually. We evaluated various histologic criteria in equine brain, liver, and muscle tissue to aid the estimation of PMI in horses, which is central to forensic investigations of suspicious death. After death, autolysis proceeds predictably, depending on environmental conditions. Currently, no field-applied methods exist that accurately estimate the PMI using histology in animals or humans through quantification of autolysis. Brain, liver, and skeletal muscle from 12 freshly euthanized horses were held at 22°C and 8°C for 72 h. Tissues were sampled at T0h, T1h, T2h, T4h, T6h, T12h, T24h, T36h, T48h, T60h, and T72h. For each tissue, we quantified 5 to 7 criteria associated with autolysis, based on the percentage of microscopic field involved. Each criterion was modeled, with temperature and time as independent variables. Changes were most predictable in liver and muscle over the first 72 h postmortem. The criteria for autolysis that were present most extensively at both temperatures were hepatocyte individualization and the separation of bile duct epithelium from the basement membrane. The changes that were present next most extensively were disruption of myofiber continuity, hypereosinophilia, and loss of striation. Brain changes were highly variable. The high statistical correlation between the parameter "autolysis" and the variables "time/temperature", indicates that autolysis is progressive and predictable. Further investigation of these criteria is needed to establish histologic algorithms for PMI.

PP2A-C may be a promising candidate for postmortem interval estimation

Determining the postmortem interval (PMI) is an important task in forensic pathology. However, a reliable means of determining the PMI between 24 h and approximately 7 days after death has not yet been established. A previous study demonstrated that subunit A of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A-A) is a promising candidate to estimate the PMI during the first 96 h. However, more detailed work is still needed to investigate PP2A's function in PMI estimation. PP2A is a serine/threonine phosphatase consisting of three subunits (PP2A-A, PP2A-B, and PP2A-C), and its activation is reflected by Tyr-307 phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit (P-PP2A-C). In this study, we speculated that the other two subunits of PP2A and the activation of PP2A may play different roles in estimating the PMI. For this purpose, mice were euthanized and stored at different temperatures (4, 15, and 25 °C). At each temperature, the musculus vastus lateralis was collected at different time points (0, 24, 48, and 96 h) to investigate the degradation of PP2A-B, PP2A-C, and P-PP2A-C (Tyr-307). Homocysteine (Hcy) was used to establish a hyperhomocysteinemia animal model to explore the effects of plasma Hcy on PMI estimation. The data showed not only that PP2A-C was more stable than PP2A-B, but also that it was not affected by homocysteine (Hcy). These characteristics make PP2A-C a promising candidate for short-term (24 h to 48 h) PMI estimation.

Evaluation of postmortem biochemical markers: Completeness of data and assessment of implication in the field

Throughout the years an increase has been observed in research output on biochemical markers for determining the postmortem interval (PMI). However, to date, a complete overview is missing on the results of postmortem biochemical markers (PBM's) for PMI estimation. In this paper, literature was reviewed in order to identify the knowledge lacunae of PBM research from a practical point of view. A three-step approach was undertaken in order to achieve the set goal. Literature was collected, the PBM's were evaluated for completeness by means of a scorings index based on set criteria, and PBM's were subsequently evaluated in light of the Daubert &Frye criteria for scientific evidence in court. Seven PBM's were found to be well investigated, from which potassium had the highest completion score. However, none of these PBM's could be qualified as suitable for court evidence. Further, this study revealed that the majority of PBM's (94%) is not well investigated. Consequently, these PBM's did not meet Daubert &Frye criteria. In order to improve the assessment for use of PBM's as evidence in court regarding PMI estimation, PBM's should be investigated more thoroughly and data should be made readily available.

Biochemical and molecular studies using human autopsy brain tissue

The use of human brain tissue obtained at autopsy for neurochemical, pharmacological and physiological analyses is reviewed. RNA and protein samples have been found suitable for expression profiling by techniques that include RT-PCR, cDNA microarrays, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and proteomics. The rapid development of molecular biological techniques has increased the impetus for this work to be applied to studies of brain disease. It has been shown that most nucleic acids and proteins are reasonably stable post-mortem. However, their abundance and integrity can exhibit marked intra- and intercase variability, making comparisons between case-groups difficult. Variability can reveal important functional and biochemical information. The correct interpretation of neurochemical data must take into account such factors as age, gender, ethnicity, medicative history, immediate ante-mortem status, agonal state and post-mortem and post-autopsy intervals. Here we consider issues associated with the sampling of DNA, RNA and proteins using human autopsy brain tissue in relation to various ante- and post-mortem factors. We conclude that valid and practical measures of a variety of parameters may be made in human brain tissue, provided that specific factors are controlled.

How important are brain banks for alcohol research?

This article contains the proceedings of a symposium at the 2002 RSA/ISBRA Meeting in San Francisco, organized and chaired by Clive Harper and co-chaired by Izuru Matsumoto. The presentations were (1) Introduction, by Clive Harper; (2) The quality of tissue-a critical issue, by Therese Garrick; (3) The first systematic brain tissue donor program in Japan, by Izuru Matsumoto; (4) Brain scans after death-really! by Adolf Pfefferbaum, Elfar Adalsteinsson, and Edith Sullivan; (5) Capture that (genial) expression, by Joanne Lewohl and Peter Dodd; and (6) Neurochemical/pharmacological studies: experimental design and limitations, by Roger Butterworth.

Postmortem activity of lactate and malate dehydrogenase in human liver in relation to time after death

Changes in the activity of lactate (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) and malate (EC 1.1.1.37, MDH) dehydrogenases were measured in tissue extracts of human liver kept at 5 different temperatures until 35 days after death. The investigated activities decreased in proportion to time of storage which enabled an estimation of time after death by statistical analysis of the data.

The estimation of the time of death by non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in cadaveric materials. Report 3: multiple regression analysis of NPN values in human cadaveric materials

The non-protein nitrogen (NPN) values in brain, lung, liver, and kidney in 79 autopsy cases were determined according to the Micro-Kjeldahl Nessler method. Multiple regression analysis of the data was performed with every possible combination of the time of death and the NPN values in the tissues. The brain NPN showed the best correlation with the postmortem time (r = 0.673), whereas the other correlations were less satisfactory (lung r = 0.422, liver r = 0.397, and kidney r = 0.379, respectively). However, multiple combinations of each tissue NPN value proved to give better correlation coefficients and smaller errors of the estimated time of death. The practical significance of the tissue NPN as a postmortem biochemical indicator of the time of death and the multiple regression analysis of such indicators were extensively discussed in this report.

[Enzyme activity of isolated leukocyte populations. II. Cytochemical and zymographic studies of cadaver blood]

Blood was taken from the femoral vein of 17 autopsied cadavers with different diagnoses and postmortal intervals (10-120 h). The granulocytes and lymphocytes were isolated with routine methods. The cell suspensions were subject to morphologic, enzyme-cytochemical (naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase) and electrophoretic (PGM1, PGM3, GOTM, PEPA, MEM, FUCA) investigations. The following results were obtained: Erythrocyte-free cell suspensions are only found during short postmortal intervals; Isolation of pure lymphocytes from cadaver blood using the described method is only possible very early in the postmortal interval (within 10 h); The isolated granulocytes contain an impressively high percentage of eosinophilic granulocytes; The percentage of naphthol AS-D-chloroacetate esterase-positive granulocytes is considerably lower in stored, conserved blood than in blood smears; Identification of the above mentioned enzymes from isolated granulocytes from all cadavers is possible by electrophoresis.

Forensic significance of acetylcholine esterase histochemistry in organophosphate intoxication. Original investigations and review of the literature

The reduction of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity or the complete blocking of AChE to be observed by histochemical demonstration of AChE in tissue after experimental and spontaneous (human) organophosphate intoxication (especially paraoxone = E600 and parathion = E605) should be interpreted as an indication of an in vivo inhibition of the cholinergic system. In animal experiments, a relationship was demonstrated between AChE activity and the applied dose of organophosphorous compounds. In addition, enzyme inhibition was observed in in vitro systems using AChE-containing mouse tissue sections pretreated with organophosphate solutions or with body fluids containing organophosphates. Examination of the concentration dependency indicated that the inhibiting solution must contain at least 0.15 microgram/ml paraoxone or 5 mg/ml parathion to block AChE in the section. Using the same in vitro system, a half-life of 6-7 min was established for the paraoxone inactivating enzyme in blood. The in vivo and in vitro inhibited AChE was reactivated by consecutive treatment of blocked sections with toxogonin. This possibility of reactivation therefore allows qualitative classifications of the AChE-inhibiting toxin to the alkylphosphates. The postmortem persistence of the AChE inhibitory effect was demonstrable for about a 2-month interval. Since the histochemically demonstrable activity of the enzyme AChE is more or less constant during a postmortem interval of at least 70h, the model of histochemical demonstration is a method which provides a morphological equivalent for acute organophosphate intoxication.

Cytochemical markers for mononuclear phagocytes as demonstrated in reactive microglia and globoid cells

Several cytochemical characteristics of mononuclear phagocytes which are used as identifying markers were studied in reactive microglia from traumatically damaged brain tissue of guinea pigs and humans as well as in globoid cells from a child with familial globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbes' disease). The following cytochemical methods were used: acid phosphatase, lysozyme, peroxidase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, adenosine triphosphatase, and the periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS reaction). Distinct activity of almost all enzymes and the PAS reaction were demonstrable in reactive microglia and globoid cells. Peroxidase however could not be demonstrated in globoid cells. The similarity of the cytochemical characteristics for mononuclear phagocytes, reactive microglia, and globoid cells tends to indicate a common identity for these cell types. The lack of peroxidase in globoid cells may be due to a final maturation and differentiation after the monocyte stage.